While the pressure seemed to be on their side, Nikora seeming to be off balance, the Godslayer didn't feel like giving up just yet. Letting loose a three hundred sixty degree burst of pin missiles, Nine ignited his arms in response. Swinging his arms in a cross formation, letting the flames loose in a sort of wall to defend himself, the fire managed to destroy a few of the pin missiles being launched at him. A few more had gotten past his defenses though, and the Houndoom's legs buckled as he felt a sharp pain in his side and one of his legs. Gritting his teeth but not falling, Nine continued to stand firm against the onslaught of attacks. Igniting his arms again, the Houndoom saw the exchange continue between Easter and Nikora.
As the Sylvevon went to attack Nikora didn't have his spiky shield to put up in defense against it. However, being as rooted and empowered as he was he still had the ability to respond to the attack. Swiftly going from his defensive posture to an offensive one, the Cacturne created a ball of green energy in one hand and brought it up to attack the incoming moonblast. The attack was hastily made, however, and his arm couldn't get into proper position in time. As a result, the two attacks collided with each other and both combatants were sent back from the force of their own attacks. Nikora had come off worse in the trade but Easter would still feel a hefty amount of damage himself.
Still, no longer rooted in one place his power was beginning to drop, which would give Nine his opportunity to strike. Standing there, arms ablaze, Nine said, "I don't know what you're fighting for, or why you're doing this. But that doesn't really matter to the three of us right now." Letting loose a blast of flame towards Nikora, the man seemed to regain his composure and put up a spiky shield for defense. As always Nine then followed this with a dark pulse which was in turn answered with a pin missile, the two attacks cancelling each other out. "All I know for certain is that I think you're wrong and that I can't stand to let you or any other god slayer have their way. All I'm saying now is that this will all be over soon, and when it is old man, I'll let you see the world we're going to save."
With that, Nine fired out yet another flamethrower towards Nikora. This time, as the Cacturne brought up his spiky shield however, Nine poured in a pulse of dark energy, providing an immediate follow up for when his flames died down. Nikora was slammed by the unexpected attack, and stumbled back though didn't give any leeway as he shot yet another spike into Nine's arm.